From the time of the American revolution, Americans have had a particularly strong attachment to individual freedom and independence. We don’t like anyone telling us what we can and cannot do. We like to operate independently and to maintain our independence for as long as possible. I am of an age that many people of…
Almost everyone faces some daunting circumstances during their lifetime: a serious health issue, a financial or other loss, a project gone wrong, a relationship ending, or a job we have devoted our life to is suddenly gone. No matter what has brought us into our darkest place, and its feelings of despair, we need to…
Generosity is an act of kindness in the form of giving money or material things, loving protection or loving understanding. We donate money to the church and its missions. We donate food to a food pantry. We provide sympathetic gestures or words. We might help a neighbor carry in her groceries. Whatever we give, it…
Frustration is a common emotion in our busy world. We call and get an automatic answering system that tells us to push one number for this and a different number for that. All we want is to ask a simple question, and none of the choices seem to get us to a person who might…
A definition of correction is to resolve, fix or rectify an error and the definition of criticism is an expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes. They seem very similar, but are actually quite different when it comes to how each is perceived by a person being spoken to. When…
Writing or talking about money can be risky, since most people have rather strong opinions about it. That said, I think it can be good to explore why we have some of our attitudes about the subject and try to resolve some questions we may not have raised with ourselves lately. I need to look…
There are many kinds of services, from the services we pay for to the services performed out of kindness. Generally, services are helpful acts preformed for the benefit of others. From public servants such as nurses, police officers, garbage collectors and military troops to spiritual advisers, aid workers, grandmothers and Sunday school children all have…
According to Wikipedia, “loyalty is a devotion to a country, philosophy, group, or person. Loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.” When we say the pledge of allegiance to the flag, we are pledging our loyalty to the United States of America. We are promising…
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently sounded the alarm on a growing health crisis in America: loneliness. He compared the effects of loneliness to smoking15 cigarettes a day, linking it to cardiovascular disease, dementia, stokes, depression and anxiety. One of the factors he blamed it on, is the rise of technology. As we spend more and…
There has been a long debate, among church leaders, whether humor belongs in the pulpit. A handout I received at the Advanced Preaching course I took said, “Remember, you are not there to entertain them.” That might be good advice, since it is easy to go overboard and turn a serious topic into a farcical…